Beaches Where You Should Watch Your Wallet

April 4, 2023

Hey Tourist! Cuba is one of the hottest vacation destinations in the world thanks to its lush beaches and charming ambiance. But behind the pleasures of this romantic island is a real concern about theft—pickpockets, muggings, and other more elaborate heists.Anyone who’s ever visited the island paradise knows its beaches are its main attraction. However, these sandy shores are usually hotbeds for tourists, who are easy prey for thieves. Foreigners book vacations in the hopes of living life to the fullest, but this large enthusiasm and their deep wallets make them particularly vulnerable.

In the following slides, we’ll discuss the Cuban beaches to look out for. All locations are full of beauty but also have a shady underbelly.

Jibacoa

Cuba depends so heavily on tourism to boost its economy that the government invests many resources in keeping tourist areas safe. Despite this, Jibacoa has become the site of many malicious thefts. Two of the crimes you should keep an eye out for include pickpocketing and purse thefts. Collectively, these threats are not a statistically high likelihood, but they do occur. Nonetheless, you may quickly realize that the region is full questionable people and activities. Hustlers and beggers may hound you down at street corners, roughly “asking” you to buy one of their products. The majority of crimes occur at night and near busier city areas in the region—contrary to certain intuitions that isolated regions are a greater risk. Inherent to the region is the capacity for such crimes to go unnoticed and even unpunished, as uniformed security patrolling the island’s many tourist areas can only provide so much safety. Crimes are often random, sporadic, and difficult to trace, thus rarely resulting in returned personal belongings. Unfortunately, these risks are generally unavoidable, given the location.

Continue reading to learn about the next risky destination, Varadero.

Varadero

Varadero is an absolutely beautiful destination full of sandy beaches and towering hotels, but do not let this pretty façade deceive you: there have been many reports of thefts, some even involving Cuban officials. Airports on the Hispanic island have a notoriously poor reputation, and this one is no exception. Some tourists have complained about unjustified bag searches by airport customs officers. Finding your bag torn open after being searched is not uncommon, but some have even reported missing belongings, such as pricey electronic devices. There are still concerns over more casual robberies like pickpocketing and muggings. Casually walking along the beach town one evening might find you grappling with a purse-snatcher. The area has earned a reputation for a number of things, not limited to its food, music, and natural attractions. Insofar as these accommodations are met, the experience is generally positive, but there is a pressing concern about robberies and muggings that should remain a serious consideration for tourists in the area and the region as a whole.

Head on over to Playa Ancon next!

Playa Ancon

Playa Ancon, located within the Cuban region known as Trinidad, is easily one of the best tourist attractions in Cuba, as the food is renowned and the entertainment is expansive. All these festivities, though, may be the basis for some serious crime. It is not a particularly widespread problem, but given the beach’s size, it is a relatively serious problem, and muggings, as well as purse-snatchings, are not uncommon. One of the most common attractions in the area is the shuttle buses, which can provide a great way to travel and even sight-see. However, they also pose a hidden risk, namely isolation, resulting in quite a few reports of missing wallets and personal belongings. Furthermore, the lack of access to local authorities makes it harder to track criminals and retrieve any lost items. There are no ways to predict when the next crime will occur. This is an undeniable and unavoidable feature of visiting the region, though it should not taint the region completely.

Head over to the destination renowned for its beauty and accommodations.

Caya Coco

Caya Coco has a great reputation because of its beauty and accommodations, and in many regards, it is one of the safer destinations in Cuba. But, there are still signs of a criminal underground no one should overlook. One common sight for tourists in the area is the inclusion of safety deposit boxes in hotels, and although this is fairly standard, maybe there’s more to it. Similarly, you’ll find uniformed security at most lodges. Even with all of the security, though, most thefts are non-threatening to your physical person. Instead, the majority of thefts occur with unattended belongings left on the beach. As casual and laid back as the white sands might be, they are often opportune venues for thieves. Leaving belongings unattended is not uncommon and is the result of a great number of crimes committed. Thus, tourists should remain vigilant, especially when visiting more populated areas.

Head over to a destination known for white sands and crystal waters next.

Santa Maria Del Mar

Known for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, Santa Maria Del Mar always lives up to its reputation, with seductive neighborhoods providing the foundation for lavish hotels. But even with all the splendor, there is still a threat of crime looming. Reports range widely, but the theme is fairly consistent: thefts tend to occur near the beaches and in populated areas. This is presumably due to the ability for criminals to blend in with the crowd and avoid detection. Furthermore, some disparities exist. It is not uncommon for purse-snatching to take place in broad daylight or even in front of dozens of witnesses. The treat is so real that, at its core, some tourists may feel too intimidated by some of the stories they hear. In all fairness, it is a statistically rare occurrence, but it’s enough of a problem to create stereotypes about the area. In any case, the region remains a beautiful attraction with a shady underbelly that persists even with law enforcement.

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